Audiences at The Bushell in Hartford, Conn., on Saturday, Jan. 25, are promised “the time of their life” as the global phenomenon of “Dirty Dancing in Concert” brings its magic back to North America for a tour spanning 50 cities.
Showtime for “Dirty Dancing in Concert” – after captivating over 200,000 fans with more than 100 mesmerizing shows across the U.S., Europe, UK, and Australia – is 7:30 p.m.
The classic love story of Baby and Johnny is set in the summer of 1963. Baby Houseman and her family vacation to the beautiful Catskills resort, Kellerman’s. Intrigued by the staff’s dance instructor, Johnny Castle, and the vastly different lifestyle of others, Baby finds herself learning to dance while having the time of her life and falling in love.
The live-to-film concert experience, directed and choreographed by Alexandra Herzog, includes a screening of the digitally remastered movie while the band and vocalists play the hit songs live and in time with the movie. There will also be a special after-party, where the audience is encouraged to sing and dance to favorite songs featured in “Dirty Dancing” while being taken back to their best memories.
When the film was released in 1987, it became an international box office phenomenon. It was directed by Emile Ardolino, written by Eleanor Bergstein, produced by Linda Gottlieb, and starred Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey in their most well-known roles, alongside Jerry Orbach and Cynthia Rhodes. The soundtrack generated two multi-platinum albums and numerous singles, including the Academy Award-winning original song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” With a global box office total of more than $214 million, “Dirty Dancing” won over audiences all around the world.
Herzog, who is director and choreographer for the tour show, is a much sought-after director/choreographer in both film, television and theater. Recent projects include two seasons as choreographer for Apple TV’s “See” starring Jason Momoa, and an upcoming film for 20th Century starring James Marsden and Vince Vaughn. She has also directed and choreographed “Mary Poppins,” “Rock of Ages,” “Nine,” “Cinderella,” “A Chorus Line” and “The Little Mermaid.” As a performer, she has appeared in many television shows and movies and has played leads in many productions across Canada and the United States, including five seasons at the Stratford Festival.
In advance of “Dirty Dancing” at The Bushnell, Herzog took time to answer a few questions for The Republican.
A scene from the film “Dirty Dancing.” (Lions Gate Entertainment Inc.)Lions Gate Entertainment
Q. When did you first see “Dirty Dancing” and what struck you about it?
A. As a little girl growing up in dance classes, “Dirty Dancing” was one of those iconic dance movies that we were introduced to at a youngish age because the dancing is so phenomenal in it. What struck me about it was the fact that dance is such a visceral art form. Every art form evolves, but the dancing in the movie still holds up today when you watch it again. ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Dirty Dancing’ are two of the most iconic dance movies of all time. The dancing in them today is as impressive as when the movies first came out. As for Patrick Swayze, he is such a star and just so handsome and magnetic and known as such a nice guy in the industry that it made seeing the movie an even richer experience.
Q. What led to your accepting the role as director/choreographer for “Dirty Dancing in Concert”?
A. I think one of the coolest things about the show is it combines a lot of different amazing elements. One of the best parts of “Dirty Dancing in Concert” is, of course, the live music. There is a reason people love going to concerts. There is something about live music… it is just such an in the moment, amazingly incredible experience that lights you up in a way that nothing else can. So, there is the concert element of the show and the nostalgia of the movie. We nod to the dance and choreography in the movie as well. And there are just all these incredible elements coming together that make it exciting for a director/choreographer to approach.
Q. What is the greatest challenge in directing this show, especially one where choreography is such an important aspect?
A. We have a fairly small cast. There is a Baby, a Johnny and a second male singer who embodies a number of characters from the show. We also have three additional singers and a band of six. There are so many great scenes in “Dirty Dancing” where everyone is dancing together, and one of the big challenges for me is building that huge energy with our three singers and our band, which I think they do so incredibly successfully. And when they are doing their thing, people are jumping out of their seats and singing and dancing with them… the show is incredibly interactive. And I think it is a challenge we have achieved really beautifully.
Q. What do you think is the lasting appeal over the years for the original film and now stage shows like ‘Dirty Dancing in Concert’?
A. Again, I think the dancing is just incredibly spectacular. The second aspect is the nostalgia where the movie is a nod to simpler times. Life in the world today is complicated and not easy for people. But I think when you watch the movie you are transported back to those times and can escape for a couple of hours to a time when life was easier for many people.
Q. What has been your best gig?
A. That’s a hard one to answer because they are all so different. ‘Dirty Dancing in Concert’ has been such a massive success and is in its third North American tour. We are hitting some cities again for the second time because some audiences loved it so much the first time around. One of my greatest joys was to be able to fly home to the city where I grew up and take my mom to the show which was sold out that night. I’ve had a ton of successes in different areas. But this North American tour going out for the third time and hitting cities that have seen it before is quite a remarkable achievement for me.
Tickets to “Dirty Dancing in Concert” can be purchased on The Bushnell’s website.
